Athletic Report
June 27, 2000

EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY ZIA TENNIS TEAM SIGNS TWO PLAYERS
PORTALES, NM — The Eastern New Mexico University women’s tennis team concluded the 1999-2000 season with a 16-5 overall record on their way to the Round of 16 in the NCAA Division II National Tournament. Head Coach Christine Blaeser has signed two incoming freshmen to National Letters of Intent to help the Zias remain nationally-competitive in 2000-01.

The new Zias for the upcoming season are Bethanie Nix from Newman Smith High School in Carrollton, Texas, and Janelle Sanchez from Cibola High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Julie Stiles, at #2 singles and #1 doubles, was ENMU’s only senior this past season, as the Zias qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year. Stiles, who won 70 singles matches and 71 doubles matches in her career, will be difficult to replace.

Even so, the Zias should be very strong with the return of Layla Turner (#1 singles, #1 doubles), who ended the year ranked #24 nationally in singles, and teamed with Stiles for a #11 national ranking in doubles. As a team, ENMU finished the seaosn ranked #11 in NCAA Division II. It was the highest ranking in the history of the Zia tennis program.

Nix, 5’5”, won the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Girls’ Super Championship in the 18-year-old Division. She played #1 singles and #1 doubles at Newman Smith all four seasons. She earned the 1999 Texas District 5-5A singles title before advancing to the Regional semifinals.

She won well over 100 singles matches during her high school career. Nix has been named to the Honor Roll at Newman Smith. She also was named to Who’s Who Among American High School Students. She will major in Psychology at ENMU.

Sanchez played #1 singles at Cibola High School. She won District singles titles as a sophomore and a junior. She also earned 4th place at the State Tournament during her junior season in 1998-99. Sanchez was an All-District player in high school, and was named to the Cibola High School Honor Roll. She plans to major in Elementary Education at Eastern New Mexico.

EASTERN NEW MEXICO ZIA TENNIS SIGNINGS
Bethanie Nix
5’5”, Newman Smith High School (Carrollton, Texas)

Janelle Sanchez
5’3”, Cibola High School (Albuquerque, New Mexico)